Chatterbox: Blab About Books

This might belong in Inkwell, but it might not, as it's about fanfiction schtuffs so...

Right now I'm participating in a big bang that requires a minimum of 15,000 words, and I can't just write nonsense like I did for NaNo, since my bb submission has to be beta'd and then read by the general internet-public. Gah. But I have four-ish months until rough drafts are due, so hopefully I'll have something decent at least.

Anywho, does anyone here participate in fests, challenges, big bangs, etc. etc.? And for those who are confused- I'd probably be too if I read this a week ago- a big bang is basically a writing event that takes place throughout a few months (the one I'm in runs from September-March (not including the voting)) where authors are given a certain theme, prompt, and/or character to write about (normally, this is for fanfiction) and the minimum word limits range from 10,000 to 50,000 I think. Then later in the event, you're paired with an artist I think, who might make something from banners to fanvids to etc. etc.

Anywho, once all is over and done with the writing and art'ing and beta'ing, the fics are posted somewhere and people vote for their favourites.

Challenges are a bit different I think. I know of a challenge that occurs once a week. Each week, a different prompt and sometimes a pairing is given. The minimum word limit is significantly lower than big bangs usually, and like the BBs, people vote for their favourites and etc. etc.

Fests are like BBs too I think, except the word limit and time frame is shorter. I know a fest that gives you writing time until December 1 and they make a list of prompts. You choose your own prompt (though you're normally given one I think) and the word minimum is 500.

There's a lot more to BBs, challenges, and fests and such, but I can't think properly right now. So, like I said earlier, does anyone participate in these? I'm taking part in the Hermione Granger Big Bang, Harry Potter Mini Fest, Sorting Hat Drabbles (which is weekly), and the DMHG Challenge (it takes place once a month and you have to write a drabble that is exactly 100 words). Actually, I finished my SHD and DMHG challenge drabble, but nevermind that.

Oh, and a beta is someone who edits your work, basically an editor. They also give constructive criticsm (normally) or just pointers and/or help with certain things like staying in character, tone, SPAG (spelling, punctuation, and grammar), and etc. etc.

I really should go back to working on my BB. 

APC says raaz. Razz? What's that?